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Tauseef Ahmed

Tauseef Ahmed (born May 10, 1958, Karachi, Sindh) is a former Pakistanicricketer who played in 34 Tests and 70 ODIs from 1980 to 1993. He sported a trademark afro and moustache for most of his career.

Tauseef Ahmed made his debut as a Test player in an unusual manner. He was recommended by a friend to the then Pakistani cricket captain Javed Miandad who invited him to bowl at the nets before the Pakistan-Australia Test match at Karachi in 1980. After Tauseef Ahmed beat Miandad's bat in the nets he was drafted into the test squad eventually leading to his debut.[1] Tauseef later admitted that he did not even know the names of the opposing Australian players when he made his debut.[2]

A right arm offbreak bowler he formed an effective partnership with Iqbal Qasim early in his career. When Ahmed made his Test debut, against Australia at Karachi, the two spinners took 18 of the 20 wickets in a 7 wicket win. Ahmed finished with 4/64 and 3/62.

His career best figures of 6 for 45 in the 2nd innings against Sri Lanka at Asgiriya Stadium in 1986. The performance won he the man of the match award. In 1986-87 he played a major role in Pakistan's 16 run victory over India at Bangalore, taking 9 wickets. The Bangalore test match win marked Pakistan's first ever test series victory against India in India.